“What right do you have to cry!”
Seraphie was burning inside. She felt sorry for this pathetic fool, her sponsored artist, who endured without even knowing how much abuse she had suffered. Perhaps Bia had never thought of rebelling against the parents who embezzled her support funds. However, from what she saw earlier when entering the house, Bia seemed to have made some effort to protect the funds.
“I’m really sorry.”
Bia only shed tears silently, as if she didn’t even realize she was crying. Or perhaps she didn’t know how to cry out loud.
“I know it’s wrong, but that’s why…”
For the first time today, Bia asked her parents not to touch the support money. It was also her first act of rebellion. She told them it was money given by someone who liked her incomplete drawings. She begged them not to touch it until she finished her work. But her parents lashed out at her, calling her request selfish and disrespectful.
“Being stupid isn’t a crime,” Seraphie spoke in a softened tone. “But knowing you’re being stupid and refusing to change—that is a fault.” She then asked again. “Do you want to leave this house?”
“…”
But Bia, who had been trained to be overly obedient, could not answer. She couldn’t bring herself to express her thoughts, bound by the shackles she had worn for so long.
“Don’t think!” Seraphie shouted sternly.
Startled, Bia stiffened in place, trembling.
“Just say whatever comes to mind right now!”
“B-But…”
“None of your family helps you! Then, at the very least, you must stand up for yourself! Who do you think you’re worrying about right now?!”
Seraphie’s harsh words made Bia feel dizzy. How could such a frail-looking person unleash such fury? Even in her shock, Bia felt her mind clear as her trivial thoughts vanished.
What do I really want to do? She glanced down at her feet, realizing there was nothing tied to them—no shackles, no burdens.
“…I want to.” Her trembling voice was weak but heavy with sincerity. “I want to leave this house.”
Bia didn’t want to stay in this place any longer, killing her dreams. She didn’t want to keep living just for the sake of her older brother, whom she hadn’t seen for years while being used by her parents.
Once she started being honest, her emotions gushed out like a flood.
“I don’t want to draw here anymore.”
“Don’t carry guilt.”
“Is it so wrong for me to paint?”
“More.”
“I want to live doing what I want too! What’s so wrong about me not helping my family?!”
“More!”
“I want to escape this place!”
The painter, who had kept her feelings hidden for so long, was now sobbing as if in anguish.
“Please, just leave me alone!”
She had been good enough, hadn’t she? So why was it bad if she didn’t support her family? Her brother was studying what he wanted with her money. But why couldn’t she even paint what she wanted with her own money? Why didn’t her parents take care of her? Why did her siblings only come to her?
“…”
Seraphie looked quietly at Bia, then raised her gaze to the large canvas she had been working on. A woman draped in a purple cloth held a shining candlestick high, her blue eyes sparkling even brighter than the light. Only then did Seraphie realize why she was so captivated by Bia’s paintings—it wasn’t just because the style resembled that of a painter she liked from her old world. Maybe it was because she felt Bia’s desperate desire to escape this reality.
With that thought, the painting’s style suddenly felt unfamiliar to her. Seraphie no longer felt a connection to her old world through Bia’s artwork.
…But it’s still beautiful.
She still liked Bia’s paintings.
* * *
Seraphie sent Marine to fetch two large carriages and a few strong servants. Marine, who had heard Bia’s outburst from outside the hall, left in tears and sniffling. In the meantime, Seraphie waited in Bia’s studio with another servant who had accompanied her.
“…”
“…”
“…”
Only awkward silence filled the room. Fortunately, Bia had stopped crying by now. Though she was embarrassed and unsure of what to do, she felt a surprising sense of relief. But still, part of her heart remained unsettled.
Knock, knock. Then, someone opened the door.
“Sister…”
At the sound of her siblings, Bia quickly wiped her face with her sleeve and opened the door. Her siblings were gathered outside. Bia felt guilty seeing their faces after what had just happened.
“Countess.”
The smallest boy among them quickly approached Seraphie. Before Bia or the servant could stop him, the boy moved so fast that Seraphie couldn’t help but admire his agility.
“Countess.”
“What is it?”
“Did we make our sister suffer?”
So they heard everything.
Seraphie gently patted the young boy’s head, showing a rare expression of apology. Despite his unkempt appearance, she didn’t mind.
“Yes, all of you did make Bia suffer.”
She knew full well that these young children were not to blame. But in order for Bia to fully think of herself, she had to let go of her siblings.
The boy blinked slowly at her answer. “Then, is our sister leaving now?”
“I’m taking her with me.”
“Will we never see her again? If you don’t take her—”
“Enough.”
The oldest of the five siblings clamped a hand over the younger one’s mouth. He was the same one who had told Seraphie earlier why Bia had been scolded by their parents.
“Just enough…”
The younger sister glanced at Bia, who was watching them anxiously and teared up. But she quickly wiped her face with her sleeve and forced a smile.
“Go on, Sister.”
Knowing how much her sister had suffered, the younger girl could let her go.
“I’ll take care of the others now, so you can go—”
“Oho, who told you that?” Seraphie interrupted, laughing at how absurd the situation was. “What are you going to do to earn money like your sister and support all these siblings and your parents?”
“I can earn money sewing!” The eldest sibling confidently claimed that she, too, was a source of income for the family.
“You’re earning money too?”
This family is truly something, Seraphie thought, raising both hands in mock surrender.
“If you’re really sorry for Bia.”
Just then, the sound of carriages came from outside, along with Marine’s hurried voice calling for the master.
“You only have one task.”
Seraphie crossed her arms and ordered the children.
“Pack your things.”
“Co-Countess…”
Startled, Bia hurriedly called out to Seraphie. But Seraphie ignored her and continued giving a stern and threatening warning to the children.
“But remember this. Once you step into my mansion, things are going to get very tough. You must study diligently, and every weekend, you’ll help out for one hour to repay this debt.”
The children blinked in confusion.
“Of course, it’s not mandatory. Those who wanted to stay could remain here.”
Even Seraphie understood, to some extent, that having parents around was helpful in raising children.
“So, what will you do?” Seraphie left the choice to them.
The children quickly went to their rooms. The sound of them packing was clearly heard through the walls.
* * *
“…”
The butler and the head maid were speechless.
“You’ve cleaned the annex, right?”
“Pardon? Ah, yes…” The head maid responded a beat late.
“They’ll be living there.” Seraphie pointed to two small children clutching her skirt tightly and three more sticking close to Bia. “Their belongings are in the carriage. Be careful with the art supplies.”
“Uh, that…” The butler couldn’t finish his question and instead let out a dry cough.
“Who are these children…?”
“Children I’ll be sponsoring.”
“…”
“You kids, follow the head maid and wait in the annex for now.”
After the children left with the head maid, Seraphie entered the parlor with Bia and resumed discussing the sponsorship.
“The contract terms will change significantly.”
It was only natural. Now that Bia would be staying in the Vallidus annex and her younger siblings were also under Seraphie’s care, the terms had to reflect that. First of all, the sponsorship funds were significantly reduced under the pretext of deducting rent, food, and living expenses. But Bia understood that Seraphie was showing her immense kindness.
“By the way, how old is your youngest sibling?”
“He turned five this year.”
“Alright, then first, we need to teach him to read…”
“Excuse me!”
So much luck coming at once was frightening, and Bia couldn’t help but interrupt.
“Are you really okay with all this?” Bia felt deeply sorry and guilty, thinking Seraphie was doing something so reckless for her sake.
“It doesn’t really bother me.”
Seraphie, on the other hand, didn’t see it as a big deal. Money wasn’t an issue. The funds given by Felicia family as an advance for their business were still piled up like a mountain. Soon, when the god’s treasure hit the market, she’d be sitting on piles of cash again. And Seraphie fully intended to make use of the children.
“My mother is currently studying.”
She hadn’t asked yet, but Seraphie figured the great madam would gladly take on the task of teaching the kids.
“She could teach them.”
And with young children running around the estate, she hoped her mother might feel a little more at ease.
Mother always seemed to regret not being able to protect young Seraphie properly… Seraphie planned to make strategic use of the situation.
And then, her final condition.
“I never want to see your parents again.”
She banned any meetings with the parents. It wasn’t an order to cut ties entirely. However, while receiving support and living under her care, they were not to give any financial or material aid to the parents. Still, considering how the children had followed Seraphie without a moment’s hesitation—They’d already been abandoned. It wasn’t even funny.
“Countess.”
Before she realized it, Bia had risen from her seat and bowed deeply.
“Thank you so much for helping me and my siblings. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay this kindness…”
“Repay me with your art.” Seraphie smiled faintly. “I find comfort in your paintings.”
It was the same even now.
“As long as you don’t forget that, it’s enough.”
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